Thread: Military

Originally Posted by Bowzer

Your first paragraph confuses the hell out of me.

He was joking, though that paragraph was somewhat confusing. Also, to touch on what sithmaster stated about training, basic combat training is just that, basic. Everyone learns the basics of soldiering and for many Soldiers this is the only time they will be in a field environment doing the things I love. Advanced Individual Training is only advanced insofar as it gives a Soldier a working knowledge of his or her job. Training continues at your first and subsequent units and goes much more in depth. My first month at Fort Campbell taught me more about the Infantry than four months at Fort Benning did.

This thread has had some interesting contributions from service members that have run the gamut from fresh out of IET (sithmaster) to initial-term (MPR, srsinternets), to mid-term (fried chicken) to career (myself). Bowzer has even chipped in from the officer perspective. If only there was a senior NCO posting here somewhere...

Also, I found out yesterday that the Army is offering a Reduced Military Service Obligation contract. With this option you serve on active duty for two years, then in the Selected Reserves for four more. Your total obligation is only six years, not eight. There are a lot of options explained in the message below, I have emphasized the RMSO and 18X programs.

MILPER MSG 08-284

MILPER MESSAGE NUMBER : 08-284
AHRC-EPF-A
ENLISTMENT BONUS (EB) PROGRAM CHANGES ISSUED: 30 OCT 08
...Issued: [11/06/2008]...
________________________________________


A. MILPER MSG #08-264, AHRC-EPF-A, ISSUED 21 OCT 08, SAB.

B. HQDA MSG DAPE-MPA 08-28-08, SUBJ: ENLISTMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM CHANGE EFFECTIVE 30 OCT 2008.

C. CHAP 9 AR 601-210, CHAP 5 AR 601-280.


1. THIS MILPER MESSAGE WILL EXPIRE NLT 30 OCT 2009.


2. POLICY: CONTAINED IN REF C.


3. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR USAREC: TO AVOID FUTURE CLAIMS OF ERRONEOUS OR UNFULFILLED COMMITMENTS, REQ CDR USAREC ENSURES RECRUITERS AND MEPS PERSONNEL ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE.
4. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR DFAS: TO AVOID FUTURE CLAIMS OF ERRRONEOUS OR UNFULFILLED COMMITMENTS, REQ CDR DFAS ENSURE THAT ALL FAO’S ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE.
5. RULES:

A. THIS MESSAGE INTEGRATES THE "ACTIVE FIRST" (AF) PROGRAM INTO THE ACTIVE ARMY BONUS STRUCTURE AND IMPLEMENTS THE REGULAR ARMY ACTIVE FIRST ENLISTMENT OPTION (OPTION 35). THE RA ACTIVE FIRST ENLISTMENT OPTION ALLOWS NPS RECRUITS TO ENLIST IN THE ACTIVE ARMY FOR 3 YEAR PLUS TRAINING (VEL) TERM OF SERVICE. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR RA SERVICE THESE SOLDIERS AGREE TO A SERVE THE REMAINDER OF THEIR 8 YEAR MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION IN AN ARMY RESERVE OR NATIONAL GUARD SELRES ASSIGNMENT. THE TOTAL ACTIVE FIRST ENLISTMENT CONTRACT COMMITMENT (AC PLUS RC) IS 8 YEARS. ACTIVE FIRST AND 3X5 PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ALL INCENTIVES IN THIS MESSAGE EXCEPT THE DEFERRED ENLISTMENT BONUS (DEB). THE TSC AND TOS STANDARDS AND CAPS FOR EACH INCENTIVE OPTION ALSO APPLY TO AF AND 3X5 PARTICIPANTS. AN ADDITIONAL $8,000 BONUS IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL AF AND 3X5 PARTICIPANTS AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH F BELOW.

B. THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN THE REQUEST SYSTEM: OPTIONS 5, 7, 15, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, and 33.

C. A SEASONAL BONUS (SB) IS AVAILABLE TO NPS AND DOS APPLICANTS WITH A TIER I EDUCATION CREDENTIAL, TSC I-IIIB FOR A TERM OF SERVICE (TOS) OF THREE OR MORE YEARS ENLISTING IN ALL INCENTIVE MOS (LEVELS 1-5 AND ANY MOS THAT IS IDENTIFIED BY THE REQUEST SYSTEM FOR A SEASONAL BONUS) AND ALL NPS 09L APPLICANTS REGARDLESS OF EDUCATION LEVEL AND TSC. ALSO ELIGIBLE ARE NPS APPLICANTS WITH A TIER II CREDENTIAL, TSC I-IIIA THAT PASS TTAS AND TIER II DOS I-IIIA WITHOUT TTAS IN SELECT MOS'S WHICH HAVE A PRIORITY TRAINING SEAT OR OTHER TIER II, TSC I-IIIA THAT PASS TTAS. AN SB OF $20,000 IS AUTHORIZED FOR BONUS LEVEL 1 WHO SHIP WITHIN 30 DAYS. SB IS $15,000 FOR LEVEL 2 WHO SHIP WITHIN 30 DAYS, $10,000 FOR LEVEL 3 WHO SHIP WITHIN 30 DAYS AND $5,000 FOR LEVELS 4 AND 5 WHO SHIP WITHIN 30 DAYS. AN SB OF $3,000 FOR LEVELS 1-5 WHO SHIP WITHIN 31-60 DAYS MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR PRIORITY TRAINING SEATS. THE REQUEST SYSTEM WILL DETERMINE THE TRAINING SEAT AVAILABILITY AND BONUS AMOUNT. THE SB IS FOR NEW CONTRACTS ONLY. THESE BONUSES MAY BE COMBINED WITH ALL OTHER INCENTIVES FOR TIER I, TSC I-IIIA AND TIER II TSC I-IIIA THAT PASS TTAS. THIS BONUS MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH THE DEFERRED ENLISTMENT BONUS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH D.

D. A DEFERRED ENLISTMENT BONUS (DEB) HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DEP BONUS. NOTE- THIS INCENTIVE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR AF OR 3X5 PARTICIPANTS. ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN TSC I-IIIB OR HIGHER ENLISTING IN THE DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM FOR ANY MOS AND THREE OR MORE YEARS TOS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A BONUS TO BE COMPUTED AS FOLLOWS: $1,000 FOR EACH MONTH OR PART OF A MONTH BEGINNING WHEN THE PERMANENT RESERVATION IS PULLED FROM THE FUTURE SOLDIER REMOTE RESERVATIONS SYSTEM UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 14 MONTHS AND AN ADDITIONAL $1,000 ADDED TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT UPON SUCCESSFUL RECEIPT OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THE TOTAL DEB BONUS MAY NOT EXCEED $15,000. THIS BONUS CAN BE COMBINED WILL ALL INCENTIVISED MOS’S LEVEL 1-5 AND THE ACF PROGRAM. THIS BONUS MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH THE SEASONAL BONUS. FAILURE TO ATTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WILL NEGATE THIS BONUS. DEP MEMBERS WHO RENEGOTIATE THEIR CONTRACTS WHILE IN A DEP STATUS LOSE ANY ACCUMULATED DEB CREDIT UPON RENEGOTION UNLESS THE RENEGOTIATION WAS DUE TO THE NEEDS OF THE ARMY. HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS CURRENTLY AFFILIATED WITH THE ARNG OR USAR SELECTED RESERVES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

E. A HIGRAD BONUS IS RESTRICTED TO AUTHORIZED INCENTIVE LEVELS 1-5 ONLY. HIGRAD BONUS FOR 30-59 SEMESTER HOURS (SH), 60+ SH, TWO YEAR ASSOCIATES OR EQUIVALENT, AND BACHELORS DEGREE OR HIGHER: AUTHORIZED FOR ALL MOS'S FOR NON-PRIOR SERVICE AND DOS APPLICANTS ENLISTING FOR THREE (3) OR MORE YEARS IN AN INCENTIVIZED MOS LVL 1-5 WITH 30 OR MORE SEMESTER HOURS AND TSC I-IIIB AND ALL 09L NPS APPLICANTS REGARDLESS OF TSC. A $3000 BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICANTS WITH 30-59 SEMESTER HOURS OF COLLEGE. A $6000 BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICANTS WITH 60 OR MORE SEMESTER HOURS OF COLLEGE. A $7000 BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICANTS WITH A TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE. AN $8000 BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICANTS WITH A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE OR HIGHER. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MAY RECEIVE ONLY ONE HIGRAD BONUS. THIS BONUS MAY BE COMBINED WITH ALL OTHER INCENTIVES.

F. 8 YEAR ($8,000) MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION "CONTINUUM OF SERVICE (COS) BONUS" IS AUTHORIZED FOR ALL NPS APPLICANTS WITH A TIER I EDUCATION CREDENTIAL, TSC I-IIIB OR A TIER II EDUCATION CREDENTIAL, TSC I-IIIA ENLISTING IN ANY MOS FOR A TOTAL MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION (COMBINATION OF ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENT TPU/SELRES) OF AT LEAST 8 YEARS. THIS BONUS IS CURRENTLY OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE “ACTIVE FIRST” AND RAF PROGRAMS OR FOR AN 8 YEAR RA ENLISTMENT CONTRACT. THIS BONUS IS PAYABLE IN COMBINATION WITH ALL INCENTIVES IN THIS MESSAGE SUBJECT TO TERM OF SERVICE CAPS AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH K OF THIS MESSAGE. NOTE: THE “CONTINUUM OF SERVICE (COS) BONUS” IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR DAYS OF SERVICE (DOS) APPLICANTS.

G. ARMY CIVILIAN ACQUIRED SKILLS PROGRAM (ACASP) BONUS ($5000): AUTHORIZED FOR ALL ACASP MOS'S IN LEVELS 1 THROUGH 5 FOR TIER 1, TSC I-IIIB NON-PRIOR SERVICE AND DOS APPLICANTS FOR A TERM OF SERVICE OF THREE OR MORE YEARS. 09L APPLICANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM EDUCATION AND TSC STANDARDS PROVIDED OTHERWISE QUALIFIED. THIS BONUS MAY BE COMBINED WITH ALL OTHER INCENTIVES.

H. A REDUCED MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION ENLISTMENT OPTION (2X4X0): THIS OPTION PROVIDES AN ACTIVE COMPONENT ENLISTMENT TERM OF 2 YEARS + VEL FOLLOWED BY 4 YEARS RESPECTIVELY IN A USAR OR ARNG SELECTED RESERVE UNIT. TOTAL MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION (MSO) WILL BE REDUCED FROM 8 TO 6 YEARS UNDER THIS OPTION. A CASH INCENTIVE OF $20,000 IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS OPTION. NO OTHER INCENTIVES (CASH OR EDUCATIONAL) CAN BE COMBINED WITH THIS INCENTIVE. THE REQUEST SYSTEM WILL DETERMINE TRAINING SEAT AVAILABILTY.

I. A $5000 BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR ALL NPS AND DOS ENLISTMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING RANGER MOS: 92Y, 25C, 27D, 42A, 92A, 92G, 88M AND 94F OR ANY MOS IDENTIFIED BY REQUEST. THIS BONUS MAY BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER INCENTIVE FOR WHICH QUALIFIED SUBJECT TO THE TOS AND STATUTORY LIMITS. THIS BONUS WILL BE PAYABLE ONCE THE APPLICANT COMPLETES RIP AND ARRIVES AT RANGER UNIT. THE BONUS IS INVALIDATED IF THE APPLICANT FAILS TO COMPLETE RIP OR DECLINES ASSIGNMENT TO A RANGER UNIT. IF A HIGHER PRIORITY REQUIREMENT NECESSITATES ASSIGNING APPLICANT TO A NON-RANGER UNIT AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF RIP, THE INCENTIVE WILL BE PAID.

J. THE ARMY ADVANTAGE FUND (AAF) IS A PILOT PROGRAM OFFERED TO REGULAR ARMY/ARMY RESERVES I-IIIA TRADITIONAL 4 YEAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA GRADUATES (TIER I) AND HOME SCHOOL APPLICANTS ONLY, ENLISTING INTO CRITICAL MOS LEVELS 1-5 FOR PERIODS OF 3 (VEL) YEARS OR LONGER. THIS OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ANY OTHER TIER 1 APPLICANTS WHO HOLD OTHER EDUCATION CREDENTIALS LISTED FOR TIER 1 HSDG SUCH AS 15 SEMESTER HOURS OF COLLEGE, JOB CORPS, ADULT EDUCATION, OR VO-TECH CLOCK HOURS. THE MOS WITH THIS INCENTIVE WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON REQUEST OR BY USAREC. THIS PILOT PROGRAM WILL BE OPEN TO FIVE BATTALIONS ONLY: ALBANY (LESS EUROPE), CLEVELAND BN, MONTGOMERY BN, SAN ANTONIO BN AND SEATTLE BN. THE PILOT WILL LAST 6-12 MONTHS AFTER WHICH A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE TO EXPAND OR DISCONTINUE THE PROGRAM. APPLICANTS ENLISTING FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $40,000 FOR A 5 YEAR ENLISTMENT. APPLICANTS ENLISTING IN THE AR ARE ELIGIBLE UP TO $20,000 FOR A MINIMUM 5 YEAR ENLISTMENT FOR A TPU OR AGR POSITION. QUALIFYING SOLDIERS HAVE A CHOICE OF USING THE INCENTIVE FOR EITHER A HOME LOAN OR BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. RA ENLISTED MEMBERS ELECTING TO USE THIS INCENTIVE MUST WAIT UNTIL THEY FINISH THEIR INITIAL TERM OF SERVICE BEFORE THEY CAN RECEIVE PAYMENT. RESERVE ENLISTED MEMBERS ELECTING TO START A BUSINESS OR BUY A HOUSE CAN REMAIN WITH THEIR TPU AND STILL RECEIVE PAYMENT. QUALIFIED RA/AR APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT ELECT TO PURCHASE A HOME OR START A BUSINESS WILL RECEIVE A CASH PAYMENT 5 YEARS AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE ARMY OR ARMY RESERVE. THE SOLDIER OR BENEFECIARY CAN STILL RECEIVE FULL PAYMENT IF THE SOLDIER IS UNABLE TO COMPLETE INITIAL TERM OF SERVICE DUE TO ILLNESS, INJURY OR DEATH NOT RESULTING FROM MISCONDUCT. THIS OPTION CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEASONAL BONUSES. THE MAXIMUM COMBINED TOTALS OF SEASONAL BONUS AND ARMY ADVANTAGE FUND FOR THE ARMY RESERVE WILL NOT EXCEED $10K FOR A 3 YEAR TOS, $15K FOR A 4 YEAR TOS, OR $20K FOR A 5 OR MORE TOS. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMBINED AAF AND SEASONAL BONUS FOR THE RA WILL NOT EXCEED $30K FOR A 3 YEAR TOS OR $40K FOR A 4 OR MORE YEAR TOS.
K. THE ENLISTMENT BONUS IS AVAILABLE TO NPS AND DOS APPLICANTS WITH A TIER I EDUCATION CREDENTIAL, TIER 1 AND TIER 2, TSC I-IIIA AND ALL TIER II, TSC I-IIIA THAT PASS TTAS SELECTING AN MOS INCENTIVIZED AT LEVELS 1-4 BASED ON TOS. 09L APPLICANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM EDUCATION AND TSC STANDARDS PROVIDED OTHERWISE QUALIFIED. THE TOTAL BONUS AMOUNT MAY NOT EXCEED $20,000 FOR A TWO YEAR TERM OF SERVICE, $30,000 FOR A THREE YEAR TERM OF SERVICE AND $40,000 FOR FOUR OR MORE YEARS. INITIAL PAYMENT OF THE TOTAL BONUS MAY NOT EXCEED $10,000 UPON COMPLETION OF MOS TRAINING AND ARRIVAL AT FIRST DUTY STATION. THE REMAINING BONUS AMOUNT WILL BE PAID IN ANNUAL INCREMENTS. APPLICANTS NOT COMPLETING THEIR INITIAL TERM OF SERVICE IN THE INCENTIVIZED MOS DUE TO THEIR OWN MISCONDUCT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE RECOUPMENT POLICIES IN AR 601-280, INCLUDING ENLISTMENT, ACASP AND AIRBORNE BONUSES. THE $8K CONTINUUM OF SERVICE BONUS IS SUBJECT TO RECOUPMENT IF THE SOLDIER DOES NOT AFFILIATE WITH AN RC COMPONENT OR REENLIST IN THE RA UNLESS DUE TO ILLNESS OR INJURY OR OTHER NON-RECOUPMENT SITUATIONS. HIGRAD AND SEASONAL BONUSES WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO RECOUPMENT IF THE SOLDIER FAILS TO COMPLETE TRAINING IN THE INCENTIVIZED MOS OR IS RECLASSIFIED TO ANY OTHER SKILL THAT IS NOT INCENTIVIZED AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN IN THE ARMY AND COMPLETE THEIR TERM OF CONTRACTED SERVICE.

L. PS, AND BLUE TO GREEN (B2G) (ENLISTMENT RANK OF SPC (E-4) OR LOWER): AVAILABLE TO PS, AND B2G APPLICANTS WHO SELECT TRAINING OR ENLIST IN AN MOS LISTED AT LEVELS 1-4 BASED ON TOS. THE BONUS AMOUNT WILL BE THE SAME AMOUNT AS PAID TO NPS APPLICANTS. PS/B2G APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE NO OTHER ENLISTMENT BONUSES AND ARE SUBJECT TO RECOUPMENT PROCEDURES. PS AND B2G APPLICANTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ACF AND LRP. NOTE: RC MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY MEMBERS OF A SELRES AND NOT MOBILIZED ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AN ENLISTMENT BONUS UNLESS THEY FIT THE CRITERIA IN PARAGRAPH M BELOW. 09L PS ARE PROCESSED IAW PARAGRAPH N BELOW.
M. ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR MOBILIZED (RC TO AC) MEMBERS: ACTIVE DUTY RC SOLDIERS (ENLISTMENT RANK OF SPC (E-4) OR LOWER) WHO ARE APPROVED FOR RA ENLISTMENT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF MILPER MESSAGE NUMBER 05-143; SUBJECT: ENLISTMENT OF MOBILIZED UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE (USAR) OR ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES (ARNGUS) SOLDIERS INTO THE REGULAR ARMY, ISSUED: 06/16/2005 WHO SELECT TRAINING OR ENLIST IN AN MOS LISTED AT LEVELS 1-4 BASED ON TOS WILL RECEIVE AN ENLISTMENT BONUS IN THE SAME AMOUNT PAID TO NPS APPLICANTS. THESE APPLICANTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OTHER INCENTIVES.

N. ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR SOLDIERS WHO CURRENTLY HOLD MOS 09L (REGARDLESS OF SKILL LEVEL); IRR,ING,USAR,ARNG,PS WHO ARE ENLISTING INTO THE REGULAR ARMY FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR OR MORE YEARS WILL RECEIVE A BONUS OF $15,000. EB RECIPIENTS ENLISTING UNDER THIS AUTHORITY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RECOUPMENT OF PREVIOUSLY PAID 09L ENLISTMENT BONUSES.

O. APPLICANTS SELECTING MOS 18X WHO DO NOT COMPLETE ANY PORTION OF THEIR MOS QUALIFICATION TRAINING WILL REVERT TO MOS 11X IF QUALIFIED. THEY WILL RECEIVE THE BONUS FOR MOS 11X THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME THEY INITIALLY ENTERED THE DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM (DEP). MOS 18X APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE THEIR INITIAL LUMP SUM BONUS UPON REPORTING IN TO INITIAL CMF 18 TRAINING AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE 11X PORTION OF THEIR PROGRAM.

P. LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (LRP) (ONLY AVAILABLE TO NON-PRIOR SERVICE APPLICANTS) AVAILABLE TO ALL MOS'S IN LEVELS 1-5. APPLICANTS CHOOSING THE LRP OPTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN EB WILL RECEIVE THE EB+LRP AT THE REDUCED RATE. TO QUALIFY FOR THE LRP, APPLICANTS MUST BE NPS WITH A TIER I EDUCATION CREDENTIAL WITH TSC I-IIIB AND A MINIMUM 3-YR TOS. 09L APPLICANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM EDUCATION AND TSC STANDARDS PROVIDED OTHERWISE QUALIFIED. LRP APPLICANTS MUST DECLINE MGIB ENROLLMENT ON DD FORM 2366. THE MAXIMUM REIMBURSABLE LOAN AMOUNT IS $65,000. TOS IS DICTATED BY THE PARENT MOS. APPLICANTS MAY COMBINE THE LRP WITH EB, SEASONAL, ACASP AND/OR HIGRAD BONUS. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WILL COMPLETELY BRIEF APPLICANTS SELECTING THE LRP AS AN ENLISTMENT OPTION IAW AR 601-210 TABLE 9-4. NOTE: THE LRP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR DAYS OF SERVICE (DOS) APPLICANTS EXCEPT IN THE FOLLOWING CASES: APPLICANTS WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR LESS THAN 180 DAYS AND WERE SEPARATED FOR MEDICAL OR OTHER NON DISCIPLINARY REASONS WITH AN UNCHARACTARIZED SEPARATION OR SEPARATED UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS. IN NO CASE WILL AN APPLICANT CURRENTLY AFFILIATED WITH THE USAR OR ARNG BE ENLISTED FOR LRP. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL NPS OCS/WOFT APPLICANTS.

Q. ARMY COLLEGE FUND: THE ARMY COLLEGE FUND KICKER FOR THOSE SHIPPING 1 OCT 06 OR LATER EQUALS THE FOLLOWING MONTHLY RATES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 36 MONTHS OF BENEFITS: $150 FOR 2-YR TOS, $350 FOR 3-YR TOS, $650 FOR 4-YR TOS, $850 FOR 5-YR TOS AND $950 FOR 6-YR TOS FOR SELECTED CRITICAL MOS'S. THE ARMY COLLEGE FUND KICKER IS A FROZEN VALUE BASED ON THE MONTH OF ENTRY TO ACTIVE DUTY; THE MGIB BASIC RATE MAY INCREASE AS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS. APPLICANTS CHOOSING THE ACF OPTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN EB WILL RECEIVE THE EB+ACF AT THE REDUCED RATE. THE APPLICANT MUST BE NPS WITH A TIER I EDUCATION CREDENTIAL AND TSC I-IIIB OR TIER II AND TSC I-IIIA. THE ACF IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR DAYS OF SERVICE (DOS) APPLICANTS. THE MINIMUM TOS FOR THE MOS GOVERNS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ACF. TSC IIIB'S AND TIER II'S MUST HAVE A MINIMUM 3-YR TOS. APPLICANTS MUST ENROLL IN AND REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR THE MGIB TO RECEIVE THE ACF. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WILL ANNOTATE THE CORRECT ACF AMOUNT ON GCR DYNAMIC ANNEX (DA FORM 3286 (STATEMENT OF ENLISTMENT)), US ARMY INCENTIVE PROGRAM, PARA 3. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WILL ENSURE SOLDIERS UNDERSTAND THEY MUST MAINTAIN THE GCR DYNAMIC ANNEX (DA FORM 3286) AS THEY MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF THEIR DYNAMIC ANNEX (DA FORM 3286) TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WHEN APPLYING FOR MGIB AND ACF BENEFITS. BOTH TIER I, TSC I-IIIB AND TIER II TSC I-IIIA APPLICANTS MAY COMBINE THE ACF WITH ALL OTHER INCENTIVES, IF ELIGIBLE, EXCEPT LRP.

R. FOR MOS THAT MERGE TO A NEW MOS, THE INCENTIVES THAT APPLIED TO THE OLD MOS WILL APPLY TO THE NEW MOS.

S. APPLICANTS SELECTING MOS 35W WHO ARE LANGUAGE PROFICIENT IAW AR 611-6, TO INCLUDE HERITAGE SPEAKERS, WHO ARE OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ENLISTMENT INCENTIVE, MAY ENLIST FOR A 4-YR TOS AND THE 4-YR INCENTIVE FOR THAT MOS AND INCENTIVE LEVEL.

T. THRIFT SAVINGS PROGRAM (TSP) MATCHING FUNDS PILOT PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM IS RECINDED EFFECTIVE WITH THIS MESSAGE.

U. NPS APPLICANTS MAY CHOOSE EB, EB+ACF, EB+LRP, ACF ONLY OR LRP ONLY. DOS APPLICANTS MAY CHOOSE EB, EB+LRP OR LRP ONLY (SEE PARA P). APPLICANTS RECEIVING THE ACF AND EB OR LRP AND EB WILL RECEIVE THE EB AT A REDUCED RATE. TO RECEIVE BOTH EB AND ACF OR EB AND LRP, THE APPLICANT MUST MEET EB CRITERIA AS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH K ABOVE FOR LEVELS 1-4.

V. THE ABOVE BONUS LEVEL CHANGES DO NOT AFFECT PERSONS CURRENTLY IN THE DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM (DEP) OR PERSONS WHO ENLIST IN THE DEP PRIOR TO 30 OCT 08.


6. THE FOLLOWING IS THE LIST OF MOS AUTHORIZED AN ENLISTMENT BONUS AS OF 30 OCT 08.

MOS LEVEL 3YR 4YR 5YR 6YR
09L 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
11X 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
13B 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
13D 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
13F 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
13M 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
13P 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
13R 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
13S 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
14E 2 $15000 $20000 $25000 $30000
14J 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
14T 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
15J 4 $0 $0 $0 $10000
15Q 4 $0 $0 $0 $10000
18X 3 $0 $0 $20000 $25000
19K 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
21B 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
21C 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
21E 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
21Y 3 $0 $15000 $20000 $25000
25F 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
25N 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
25P 1 $0 $25000 $30000 $35000
25Q 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
25R 4 $0 $0 $5000 $10000
25S 1 $0 $25000 $30000 $35000
25U 3 $0 $15000 $20000 $25000
27D 3 $0 $15000 $20000 $25000
31E 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
35F 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
35G 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
35H 2 $15000 $20000 $25000 $30000
35N 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
35S 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
35T 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
35W 1 $0 $0 $30000 $35000
37F 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9B 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9D 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9H 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9J 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9K 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9N 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
42R9T 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
42R9U 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
45G 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
46Q 3 $0 $0 $20000 $25000
46R 4 $0 $0 $5000 $10000
63J 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
63M 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
68K 4 $0 $0 $5000 $10000
68W 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
74D 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
88M 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
89D 1 $0 $25000 $30000 $35000
92F 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
92G 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
92R 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000
92W 4 $2000 $4000 $5000 $10000
94A 1 $20000 $25000 $30000 $35000
94E 2 $0 $20000 $25000 $30000
94F 3 $0 $15000 $20000 $25000
94H 4 $0 $0 $5000 $10000
94K 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
94L 4 $0 $0 $0 $10000
94M 4 $0 $0 $5000 $10000
94P 4 $0 $4000 $5000 $10000
94S 3 $0 $0 $20000 $25000
94Y 3 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000


7. BONUS AMOUNTS ARE REDUCED WHEN COMBINED WITH THE ARMY COLLEGE FUND AND THE LOAN REPAYMENT OPTION. SEE HQDA MESSAGE, REF B, FOR AMOUNTS.


8. HRC POC FOR THIS MESSAGE IS SSG VOYER

I finally got my shipment in from Ira Green a couple of days ago. There's a military ball at Clinton High School tonight that some of my co-workers and myself will be attending. I've got the dress blues set up and now have my Infantry blue suspenders to wear with them. Though Army dress blues lack the traditional military features of Marine blues (stand up collar, French cuffs, etc) they look every bit as good if not better when worn properly. I'm going with Old Guard personals set-up: buff strap, cockades and ribbons.

Here are a couple of videos for the OP and others to see some of the pride in service exemplified by the Old Guard. The first is a program about funerals in Arlington National Cemetery, the second is a montage from last year's Twilight Tattoo. The historical actors are all Soldiers from my former company.